Siddharttha Vankar, a noted Creative Director and accomplished author, has carved out a significant niche for himself in the entertainment industry through his innovative and unconventional approach to creativity. His ability to think outside the box has earned him widespread acclaim and recognition. Vankar has played a pivotal role in the setup of several highly successful television shows, including the popular drama series Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, Teri Meri Doriyaann, Doree etc.
IWMBuzz.com gets the opportunity to engage in an enlightening conversation with the creative thinker. Our exclusive discussion delves into the current trends shaping the television landscape and explores his insights on several pressing challenges that television shows encounter in the contemporary entertainment scene.
Read on.
What do you have to say about the scenario seen on Hindi television nowadays?
Indian television is rock solid when it comes to the changing trends of Indian viewers. With new shows like Udne Ki Aasha and Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki doing so well, it just proves that good and engaging content always has takers. What is interesting is that despite remaining true to the drama and cultural value system, bolder subjects are being explored- whether they do well or not is not important, but the fact that today channels and producers are ready to take risks is the best part!
I feel today’s shows are made more with Excel sheets than going by your gut. No one is to be blamed for it as we are in a market where if results don’t come quickly, the returns get delayed and eventually lead to loss.
You have set up cult shows like Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, Doree, Teri Meri Doriyaann etc. What does it take to strike a balance when it comes to good script and casting?
To be very honest, it’s very important to get the casting right… good scripts and good casting go hand in hand. One without the other is useless. It’s very essential when you have a good script, to cast the right people. If not done right, your characters won’t come out the way the writer has imagined. Sometimes great actors lend so much to the script themselves. The way they enact the character and scenes sometimes changes the vision of the writer, for the better.
The trend these days is for good regional stories to be retold in Hindi. What is your take on it? Are we overdoing this trend?
In the last few years, I have done a lot of remakes of regional shows and Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin was one of the pioneer shows in that lot. To be honest, I think this trend will go on for some more time. I don’t think we are overdoing it at all. These shows have done well in certain markets and remaking them only helps in getting these interesting stories to this market. Moreover, mostly these shows get good numbers and at the end of the day, we are here for business.
The new story of Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, has no link with the previous characters and storylines and needs to be considered as a new show. And as we all know, new shows take time to build.
There is a lack of patience when it comes to the expectations towards new launches these days. Shows are shut in 2-3 months of launch. How does this affect the whole scenario?
It affects the entire industry per se… any show that comes on air gives livelihood to at least 90-100 people. Imagine about 200 to 300 people surviving on one show. And when it shuts down in 2-3 months, these people have to hunt for a new show. Some get work immediately but some take time. It’s not a good situation at all. Now, coming to the patience part- I feel today’s shows are made more with Excel sheets than going by your gut. No one is to be blamed for it as we are in a market where if results don’t come quickly, the returns get delayed and eventually lead to loss.
Why do you think many new launches have not done well in the last year or so?
In each phase of television certain launches work and certain don’t; depending on the phase we are in. Right now, maybe audiences are not too open to more new content and they want their regular – daal chawal!
Do you think the patience level to construct and reconstruct storylines without thinking too early of a leap is missing these days? Explain.
Leaps are the best way to reset the story and start fresh with the same characters. I think there is no issue at all with taking leaps… rather than going ahead with a bad storyline which won’t give returns, it’s better to take a leap. It also helps to get freshness to the show visually.
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin took a leap when it was doing well. The result is that the ratings took a big hit. What have you to say?
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin leap was bound to happen as the earlier story was completely exhausted and hadn’t really resonated with the audiences. The new story, however, had no link with the previous characters and storylines and needs to be considered as a new show. And as we all know new shows take time to build. I recall even when we started Ghum in 2020, we had taken time to emerge as a slot leader and subsequently a hit show. Let’s wait and watch how the audiences react to the new story.
What is the genre of work you want to work on next?
I am looking forward to doing comedy and mythology; it has been some time that I have worked in this genre. Also, I am really looking forward to working in the OTT space.
